SIMPLIFY YOUR WAY TOWARDS GROWING A MEANINGFUL CONNECTION WITH YOUR CLIENT THROUGH ENCOURAGING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITHIN YOUR CLIENT.
After 14+ years in the wellness industry I have acquired insightful bodywork tools that make all the difference for the client and the bodyworker. Besides focusing on memorable details that appeal to the senses like fresh herbs, good quality products, inspirational music and always being genuine, the following are my top 3 favourite elements to maintaining a successful bodywork practice.
INCORPORATE ENERGY MEDICINE THROUGH REIKI PRACTICE
Everything is made up of energy and we can feel it through thoughts, sensations, intuition, impulses and feelings. All bodyworkers, humans or living beings are energy practitioners with different awareness degrees of the relationships between their own energetic boundaries and external energies affecting them. When we touch other people we exchange each other’s energetic resonance. Most bodywork practitioners are aware of the subtle energies or become more sensitive to the energies during their professional development and yet may or may not be aware of what exactly is going on. Being grounded within our own boundaries reflects respect and professionalism. One of the most simple and effective ways to infuse the energetic awareness qualities and respect into any bodywork practice is through learning and practicing Reiki. Reiki practice can be used as the main healing modality or it can accompany other practice raising the practitioner's energetic awareness and healing capacities. It also helps the client drop deeper into a restful mind brainwave state and can jumpstart the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
USE BREATH ASSISTED TECHNIQUES TO INSPIRE A SYNERGY BETWEEN BODY+ MIND
The most advanced tool in bodywork is breath because it stimulates change from inside the client through his own action. Breath alone affects the nervous system so through focused breathing techniques one can change his brain wave vibration, release physical, emotional and mental tension. There are as many different breathing patterns as there are people. If you direct a client to breathe a certain way during the session, you can help interrupt his automatic breathing patterns that originally cause or aid his physical tension. Once he can focus on a specific breathing technique, he can start to recognize the relationship between his breath and the sensations in the body; thus, he can use the breath as a vehicle to release tension. If we can change our breath, we can change our minds, and if we can change our minds, we can change our bodies. Be the one to help your client change his breathand the positive effects will trickle in.
INCLUDE ACTIVE CLIENT TECHNIQUES FOR THERAPEUTIC BENEFIT
Active client techniques undertake client efforts through muscle engagement combined with the aid of the therapist applying therapeutic techniques. Similiarly like the assisted breathing techniques, asking a client to contract or release his own muscles, makes him more aware of the specific actions that may cause or release the tension. This way the client makes a lasting memory between his mind and his body that he can carry out in his daily activities within his range of mobility, even outside of the therapeutic session. When the client becomes responsibly aware of for his own movement, the therapist can work more effectively. This way the communication and trust between the bodyworker and the client deepens, creating a more integrative therapeutic relationship.
Secondly, the active client techniques can be beneficial when working on larger clients or those who may be challenging to move. Once the therapist gives the client a direction to move his body, the client will target a specific area to which the therapist can then apply a more specific technique in an area harder to access otherwise. Finally, these techniques can allow you to work deeper with your client, through his involvement, causing no harm or apprehension to the client.
BONUS
Be interested in your client, instead of interesting in your technique application! Apply your techniques to the person not the body. Get to know your client's breathing pattern, mobility range and this way you will understand their energetic resonance better. Apply your knowledge to the agenda created by the moment and stay focused on maintaining your mind neutral, your breath rhythmic and your body in good shape and stance.